EVIDENCE. RELATION TO INSECTS. 287 



Georgia. — Alpliaretla. William A. Porter: It lias been, of marked benefit from its 

 destruction of the cabbage-worm, a soft, green worm resembling the tobacco-worm 

 and very destructive to cabbage. It feeds on this worm under ordinary circumstances, 

 as well as on flies, ants, gnats, and small bugs. (September 8, 1886. Present about 

 two years.) 



Atlanta. Hon. W. A. Harris : I do not think it feeds on insects. As a destroyer of 

 the caterpillar it is a failure. (November 11, 188G. Present about ten years.) 



Augusta. Dr. J. P. H. Brown : I know of no marked benefit. It destroys insects 

 and their larva} without stopping to discriminate between the injurious and bcnefi. 

 cial. (September 5, 1886. Present about fifteen years.) 



Bucna Vista. Thomas B. Lumpkin : When hungry they go for all kinds of in- 

 sects, but seem to prefer crickets and grasshoppers. (October 4, 1886. Present about 

 two years.) 



Garrollton. M. R. Russell : In the brooding season it destroys grasshoppers and 

 cabbage- worms. (September 25, 1886. Present about four years.) 



Griffin. J. H. Barnes: It is of no benefit to the farmer or horticulturist. It feeds 

 on insects when there is nothing else. It never touches the cabbage- worm or the cot- 

 ton-worm, the greatest pests of Georgia. (September 17, 1886. Present about six 

 years. ) 



Lexington. John T. M. Hairn : It has been of marked benefit by eating the cater- 

 pillars from cabbage and grape-vines. (September 25, 1886. Present four years.) 



Palmetto. Simeon Zellars: It feeds on iusects generally, and especially while feed- 

 ing youug. (October 4, 1886. Present about four years.) 



Savannah. J. N. Johuson : I have seen it feed upon moths and upon cnt-worms 

 on rare occasions. It has been of no marked benefit to farmer or gardener. (October 

 7. 1886. Present about eight years.) 



Illinois. — Albion. George Ferrim an : It does considerable good by devouring small 

 insects, moths, etc. I have seen it catching the moth and worms from all kinds of 

 trees to feed its young. I think at times it destroys all kinds of insects. (September 

 3, 1386. Present about fifteen years.) 



Alton. Hon. William McAdams : It destroys caterpillars arid other larvre that 

 are found about the elms and other shade trees in spring.* (August 23, 1886. Present 

 about fourteen years.) 



Bernailotte. Dr. W. S. Strode: In twenty dissections I have not found a single in- 

 sect or worm in the crops. (September 7, 1887. Present two or three years.) 



Carmi. Dr. Daniel Berry : Many years ago it was a common thing for a horse to die 

 with the botts. This is a rare occurrence now, and I have been led to believe there is 

 some relation between this immunity from fatal botts on the part of the horse popu- 

 lation and the advent of the Sparrow. The Sparrow is a model provider for a family; 

 none so busy as he when his young are unfledged. At such times his main source of 

 sustenance is the horse dung of the street, and there, I believe, is where he does his 

 good work in destroying the larvss of that fly. But without any positive knowledge 

 I make the suggestion of this relation between the Sparrow and the botts. (October 

 6, 18S6. Present about ten years.) 



Centralia. Jabez Webster : It feeds its young upon iusects for the first seven or 

 eight days. I have not observed it eating any particular kind except small grass- 

 hoppers; it prefers grain or fruit. (December 21, 1886. Present about seven years.) 

 Collinsville. Henry DeWald : In the spring of the year it feeds its young a great 

 deal on caterpillars from trees, not from vegetables. (October 5, 1886. Present about 

 twelve years.) 



Freeburgh. Charles Becker : I have seen them catch army-worms by the thousand. 

 Two years ago we had a timothy patch near the Catholic church, where Sparrows are 

 abundant, which was attacked by the army-worm, but in a short time the Sparrows 

 destroyed them. It was interesting to see the Sparrows fly into the meadow, catch a 

 worm, and fly back to feed the youug ones ; and this they did to such an extent that 



